According to the EU glossary1, a directive is a legal act that sets out a goal that EU countries must achieve, but leaves them the choice of form and methods to reach it. A directive is binding on the EU countries to which it is addressed, but it does not apply directly at the national level. Instead, it has to be transposed into national law by the national authorities, usually within a specified time limit. This allows for some flexibility and adaptation to the specific circumstances of each country. A directive is different from a regulation, which is a legal act that applies automatically and uniformly to all EU countries as soon as it enters into force, without needing to be transposed into national law. Reference:
Free CIPP/E Study Guide, page 14, section 2.3
Types of legislation, section 2
What are EU directives?